Automatic musical instrument



July 6 1926. 1,591,300

s. L. FISHER AuToMA'rIc MUsIcAn INSTRUMENT s snegts-sheet 2 31Min/x I'oz mf Filed Sept. 30, 1922 WMM? wml S.L.HSHER AUTOMATI C MUS I CAL INSTRUMENT July 6,1926. 1,591,300

Filed Sept. 30, 1922 3 sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES I, 1,591,300 PATENT office.

`STANIILIEYHL. FISHER, 'OF CHESTER, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORTO PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION COMPANY, OF DEEP RIVER, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed September 30,` '1922. LSeria1"No.-591,i579.

Ihile, as illustrated in the accompany-ing drawings, my invention is embodied in adevice designed to vary the degree of air tension in the vacuum system of a player piano or other musical instrument operated by means of a vacuum pump, it will be apparent that in some of Jits aspects it is -not limited to this type of device, but is `equally applicable to pressure operated instruments as well.

My invention more particularly relates to a device Vfor varying the air tension in the vacuum system of a musical instrument by means of the admission thereto, iin lvarying quantities, of `atmospheric air Vand vpreferably my device is designed to be controlled from the note sheet so as to render the instrument entirely automatic or of vthe socalled reproducing type. It may, however, be manually operated, ifdesired.

One object of my invention is'the provision of` a new and improved expression ydevice for controlling the dynamics of 'the notes sounded by the instrument. Y

Another object of my invention is `to provide a new and improved expression device for varying the air tension produced in the wind chest by the power source.

Another object of my inventionis to rprovide a new and improved `expression device for automatic musical instruments in which a number of various degrees of air `tension may be secured, so that v.the instrument will be capableof a wide range of expression.

Another object of my invention is to provide an `expression device of this character, which shall be` simple in construction, exceedingly eicient and sensitive in operation, and easy of adjustment. p

`To these and other ends the invention consiste in the novel features andcombinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. f

Inthe accompanying drawings: y

Fig. 1 lis a front elevational view of a player piano provided with my improvements, some of the parts of the instrument case being'brolren away toshow the application of a `preferred embodiment of the expressionmechanism.

Fig. ,2 is a rear elevational view of the expression device removed from the instrunient. y

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view Von :line 4-4 of Fig. 3;-

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the broken -line 5 5 of 4;

Fig. 6 isa sectional view on `line 6--6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is-a diagonal sectional view on :line 7 7 of Fig. 5',

Fig, 8 is a diagrammatic Ysectional view similar to Fig. 4; but showingdiagrammatically the operation of my `improved expression device.

The piano shown'in Fig. 1 consistsiof .the usual case 10 provided with a roll box 111, take-up and music spools 12 and '13, and .a tracker bar 14. NVithin the-case `is the ,usual player action chest (not shown) from which the air is exhausted by-means of ka vduct or tube 15, which leads-to an-exhaustingdevice 16 of any preferred form. 1

In or'derto admitatmospheric air yintoithe vacuumsystem to modify the action of the air pump or exhaust device, I have shown the duct 15 leading into a vacuum chest 17 to which myexpression device 18 `is secured. A duct 15a connects the chest f1.7 with theiexhausting device `16.

As shown in Fig. 3, the chest E1.7 vis .provided with a port 19, Awhich registers with a port 2() at the rear `side offthe box or chest 18 of the expression device, the expression device serving to admit varying quantities of atmospheric air to the Vvacuum fchest through the -port 19 =to control the degree .of exhaust created by the pump.

The chest 18 is @provided at its lower :portion with a chamberl containing atmospheric air atall times, fthe air ,passing into the chamber through lopenings 222. These openings are, in the-form shown, covered by strips of felt or `the 'like 23 to muttle the sound of the air passing into the chest. While. provision maybe made :for :as many different degrees (if-expression `as-it is ,desired to have, inv-the illustratedembodiment of my invention I have arranged forfive different degreesof air tension in :the action chest and to this end I have provided four valve .ports Athrough which the air iis Aada-pted to enter and pass Vinto `the lvacuum chest 17. It will be understood that-one `:degree of air tension obtains whenfallof the iports Vare open'and a different degree -foreachsone of the ports'thatis closed. These four ports are at the lower open ends ofthe chambers 24, 25, 2G and 27 and their` e'l'l'ective areas may be varied by the valves 28, 29, 30 and 31 mounted upon the stems 82, 33, 3d and 35 by which they may be regulated to vary the etective opening` of the respective ports and thereby vary the amount oi' atmospheric air admitted to the vacuum system.

Each of the 'tour chambers connnunic tes with the adjacent one in such a ina-nner that air in passing from one to the. other must pass below a diaphragm or pouch pneumatic by which the communication between the chambers may be controlled. lt may also be stated at this time that the. air in passing from certain of these chambers to the vacuum system must pass through the ren'iaining chambers which lie between that chamber and the port 20. 1n other words, air passing into the chamber 27 by the valve 31 must pass through the chambers 26, 2e and 211 successively to reach the vacuum system. ln like manner 'air entering the chamber 26 must pass through the chambers and 2-1 and air entering the chamber must pass through the chamber 2d betere entering the vacuum system. it will be seen, therefore, that when one oit these chambers is cut otrl l'rom communication with the vacuum system., the remaining chambers beyond the one under consideration will also be. cut

In ell'ecting such an arrangement, each ot these chambers opens at its upper end into one of the pouch chambers 37, 38 and 39, and also communicating with each of these pouch chan'ibers is one of the annular recesses l0, al, Ll2 and 4:3. Diaphragm-s LiL-l1, d5, 4:6 and L17 are arranged in the respective pouch chambers and each is adapted to cover one ot the chambers 24, 25, 2G and 217 and also the corresponding recess. Communicating with each ot the chambers 25 and 2G is one ot the passages 4S, and 50 and to establish communication between these passages and the adjacent chambers are th bores 51, 52, het, and 5 arranged in pairs as shown in Fig. 5, each pair comn'iunicat-ing at one end with one oi the. annular recesses and at the other end with one of the passages 48, 419 or 50.

'lo control the admission ot air through the ports regulated by the valves 28, 2, 3 and 31, a series of valves is arranged at the upper portion oi the chest 18 to control the admission olf atmospheric air or exhaust in the pouch chambers 86, 37, 38 and 39 above the pouches or diaphragms therein, lhese valves 5S, 59, GO and G1 are oi the usual primary type and are mounted in pouch chambers 62, 63, (Sel and 65, which contain the pouches 66, 67, G8 and 69 to control the valves in the 'usual manner, A. duct IO leads from each orn the valves to the respective pouch chamber above the diaphragme sie, 45, 4G, and 47 and provision is made for admitting air to the pouch chambers below these valves from. the note sheet by means ot the ducts 71, 72, 73 and 7l, which lead to openings in the tracker bar. The pouch chambers above the pouches (S6, Gi", Gb and 69 are kept in an exhausted condition by means oi passages and To, which lead Atrom the pouch chamber above the diaphragm 66 to the passage 7T, which communicatee with the chest 1l' throrgh the ports 19 and 20, and by' mains ot the pas sages 79 and S0, which connect the :four pouch chambers above the respective pouches. rThe pouch chambers below th pouches are normally li'ept in an eshaus'ci condition by means of the bleed openings Sl.

In the operation oi" my device, it will. be apparent that air entering the chamber L?? will pass up below the diaphragm l? into the annular recess i3, dmvnwardly through the bores 5G and into the passage 50. thence into the chamber 2G where, together with the air entering past the valve 30, it will pass upwardly below the diaphragm -l-l into the annular recess 4t2, through the bores and 5l into the passage lll), themel into the chamber 25, below the diaphragm l5 into the annular' recess ll, downwardlv through the bores 51 and 52 into the pas etti, thence into the chamber 2li, below the diaphragm la into the annular recess all), thence into the passage 7T through the ports 19 and 2O into the vacuum system by wai,V ot the chest 17. The valves 2S, 2S), EO and 31 may be regulated to varv the el'iective opening of the ports which the)7 control so as to control the admission of air through these ports to the wind chest.

In its normal condition, that is when the diaphragms Llei, i6 and lli' are in the position shown in Fig. el, as they are when there are no openings in the note sheet to admit air to the ducts "l, 72, T3 and Tel, armospherie air will be admitted to the wind chest through all of the tour valve control ports and the instrument will be sounding); its notes ot lowest intensity or pianissimo It it is desired to raise the degree ot' air tension in the wind chest one step `tor piano eififect for instance, an opening is eut in 'the note sheet to admit air to the tracker duct Tl, which will canse the valve (il to be ra Esed and allow atmospheric air to pase into the pouch chamber above the diaphragm el? through the passage TO. As a partial vacuinn exists below this di phragm, the latter will be Yforced downwardly to cover the recess it?) and the passage of air into this recess l'roin the channel 27 will no longer be pernirttedA 1t will be apparent that under these conditions the only air permitted to enter the vacunm s vstem will be that passingh about the valves 28, 29 and 30 and the degree ol' eX- haust obtained by the pump will be raised, it. on the other hand, a still louder tone is desired, such tor instance as mezzo torte, an

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opening is cut in the note sheet Ato adm-it air to the tracker duct 73, which will cause the valve 00 to admit air above the diaphragm 46 and thus both of theports controlled by the valves A and 81 will be cut off from the vacuum system, so that no air will be permitted to enter vthe latterV through these ports. In the same :manner torte and tortissimo ei'lec'ts may 4be produced by the admission orn atmospheric air into ythe tracker ducts 72 and 71, respectively, thus forcing the pouches and 44 downwardly to close the recesses 41 and 40. lhen the recess 41 is closed by the diaphragm 45, the only air which can enter the vacuum system will be that passing about the valve 28, while when the recess 40 is closed by the diaphragm 44, it will be apparent that the instrument will be playing its loudest tones, as no air will be admitted to the vacuum system. Varia-- tions in the eliect produced by the admission ot air to the various ytracker ducts may be secured by regulation oi' the regulating valves 28, 29, 80 and 81 to vary the effective openings of' the inlet ports and likewise, `as has been stated before, if greater variety oi' degrees of air tension is desired, the number oi inlet ports may be increased.

It will also beol'ivious that when it is desired to sound the instrument with any particular degree of loudness whether Jfortissimo or piano, it is only necessary to provide one opening in the note sheet, as the closing of any one of the diaphragm valves cuts all oi:A the inlet ports beyond this valve.

In lFig. 8 of the drawings, I have shown, in a. diagrammatic form, the operation lof my expression device. In this casethe wind chest is shown diagrammatically at 101, the exhauster at 102 and leadinginto the `duct 103 through which the air is drawn from the wind chest is the duct- 104 which communicates with the expression device. The regulating valves 105 control the inlet of atmospheric air into the chambers 106 from which this air passes below the diaphragme 107 into the ducts 108, whence it is carried through the adjacent chamber 106 and below its diaphragm 107 until it reaches the vacum system through the duct 103. Through the `note sheet openings atmospheric air is admitted into the inlet ports 109, below the diaphragms 110, which causes the valves 111 to be raised to admit air through the ducts 112 above the pouches 107 to cause the inflation of these pouches to cover the ducts 108. The operation is similar to that which taires yplace in the expression device shown in the remaining figures of the drawing, but is in somewhat simpler form to show in a diagrammatic way the course of the air through the inlet ports to the vacuum system.

It will *be understood that while the effective area of the atmosphere ports at the lower ends of the chambers 24, 25, 26 Vand 27 may be varied by regulation of the valves 28, 29, 30 and 31, the Vadmission Vof `air to the vacuum system through these ports is positively controlled by :the diaphragme 44, 45, 46 and 47 which act as valvesin closing the upper ends lof these chambers but closing the communication between them land the recesses 40, 41, 42 and 43, and thus cut otf communication between the chambers and the vacuum chest 17. In tact these diaphragms maybe provided with valves to seat upon these chambers, if desired, but it has been determined that such a provisionis not necessary a-s the diaphragms alone are et- 'ect'ive to prevent the admission oi' air to the vacuum chest through these chambers.

V'hile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that the same is not tofbe limited `to all of: the details shown, but is capable of many modifications and variations within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an expression device for musical instruments including a vacuum system having an air inlet, means to control the admission of air through said inlet including a plurality of constantly open atmosphere ports, and means Jfor preventing the :admission 'of atmospheric yair through each of said ports, the means associated with one port also Ypreventing the admission of air through another port.

2. An expression device for vmusical instruments, having a vacuum system provided with an air inlet, comprising means to control theadmission of air :through said inlet including a plurality of constantly open atmosphere ports, an independently operable ymeans for controlling the admission of at'- mospheric air through each of said ports, the means associated with `one port also controlling the admission of air through an adjacent port.

8. An expression device for musical instruments, having a vacuum system provided with an air inlet, comprising means to control `the admission of air .through said inlet including Va plurality of constantly open atmosphere ports ,and individually operable valves for controlling the admission of Vair to the vacuum system through said ports, the valve associated with one port also controlling the admission of air through another port.

4. An expression device :tor musical instruments, having a vacuum system, comprising means providing a plurality of constantly' lopen inlet ports to admit atmospheric air to said system, individually operable means to control the admission of air to the vacuumsystem through said ports, ithe controlling means associated with oneport the quality oi air entering se weien tliiougli also Controlling the admission of air en ad t port. 5. An expr struinents, li

ln, eoinlierie 70 e plu- .f'i'erent oi: eon- S llirougli iitinosp i with valves tlie ports ot' iunient,

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uriilit) ports 1n syste J i.. ttlng1 v eens nui'infv f en ports of di rt also prevents in iiezins i'ifliereby tlie 75 iii tlir( and i j provi ssion ot nir to tlie oliest 'ith one po ports.

ll the edini lir-'Jiiffii In id ports, l L i ziii' leet/ve e: A nii entri-instit: iiiusie-(il inst coniii tinosiid note slieet eoiiilly operable, ineens to conon et a f5 eeni zidt' el i D also air tlireui ein plurality et co s te sisal RCHUH' (5X Ltll'l, C

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ession device 'for in av t g means YQ J s dinit port.

ineen ing t Vzieuuin si 5 prisin providiii stantly open inlet port plieric air to ysaid system, trolled, individu trol the adn'iissi ir to the me l0 teni tlirougli sziii ports, the een means associated with one trolling` tlie admission ot jacent port.

6. An expression devi-'e struiiieiits, having' :i i

prising niezins providing ports to edi iote ntrolling,- the by the vulve port.

uns Vfor eo ixid poi Cent . :ind ine if s' ii iin di wit liioiifi ssoeiiited ineens to control il 20 the va -unn'i system t Controlling,` ineens :e admitted thereto, u vulve yd ports, end ineens menue` ad..

n i'oi' id system ineludi w .truiiients, liiwin prising ineens id ports ports liei 'r entering one oi' sf.

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striinient,

eiie inle it tlie ne vacuum system und inusienl in ysteni, eoninrisine zi w14-, 1Q limi iulcll) (,Ll in) )b 1);(1L ltion tlierewitli, mired iiiezins lin iiniuniezition between sind iainbers.

d t ereby.

nel zitniospli f elves o by t d tlie vacuum system, und n conrol i in

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uri* l ting` the n soci ospli eries ice ior euu e init tin s ior ei )here to erie ai port. pression dev s, having n v a g in lie ine ts also entti pli ond the said 8. An ex striinieiit For ed means pre y open iid duet, int

prisingl inem constant-l l0 connnunieatin sz sion ot zitnios et said ports, ot said po f5 sioii of zitino beiy olieinloers in said device,

iid tering tlie air en ineens Wliereb1 f' j, iin

Is in said device,

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, eeeli velved port tli an ind ssii ,bei-ies.

i lieri-e :iii nt ill V20 l ers individuell 55 Wi iv'iduiil 10. An exp struinents, lievi ineens proif'idiiiii een one of sind ge lending to tlie l said sysl device,

ng Witli lieinbers in sziic i tiiiosp c muil :in lietw pzisii iteii'inti iiiusieiil instrunient, in, ifi expression device liav- .ge eoiiiniuiiieati oiE e ineens v nissien otf e. 'w rality of said ports, and

ression devi n.0' zins for :iir to said system, open inlet ports en control tlie adn prising ine vacuuni system frein se said oontrollin Laeneoo chambers and the' passage leading to the vacuum system. Y 18. In an automatic musical instrun'ient, a

vacuum system, an expression device having a passage communicating with said system, a plurality of chambers in said device, means tor admitting atmospheric air at all times to each of said chambers individually, comprising ports controlled by regulable valves, means providing communication between said chambers, and means providing for communication between one ot said chambers and the passage leading to the vacuum system.

19. In an automatic musical instrument, a vacuum system, having an atmospheric air inletport, a plurality ot chambers arranged in se ies, one ot' which is in communication with said inlet port, means to admit atmospheric air at all times to each of said chambers individually, and means to cut oli the admission of air to the vacuum system from a part of the series.

20. In an automatic musical instrument, a. vacuum system having an inlet port, an expression device'having a plurality of chambers, one ot' which is in communication with said port, said chambers being open to the atmosphere at one end thereot, means providing communication between said chambers, and pneumatically operated means to close the opposite ends o't' said chambers to control the communication between said chambers.

21. In an automatic musical instrument, a vacuum system having an inlet port, an expression device having a. plurality oi chambers, one of which is in communication with said port, said chambers being open to the atmosphere at one end thereof, means providing communication between said chambers, and pneumatically operated means to close the opposite ends ot said chambers, note sheet controlled pneumatically operated means to control the communication between said chambers.

22. In an automatic musical instrument, a vacuum system having an inlet port, an expression device having a plurality of chambers, one of which is in communication with said port, said chambers being open to the atmosphere at one end thereof, means providing communication between said chambers, and pneumatically operated means to close the opposite ends ot said chambers to control the communication between said chambers, and means to control the communication between said one chamber and said inlet to the vacuum system.

23. In an automatic musical instrument, a-

vacuum system having an inlet port, an expression device having a plurality ot chambers, one oil which 'is in communication with said port, said chambers being open to the atmosphere at one end thereot', means providing communication between said chambers, pneumatically` operated means to close he opposite ends ot said chambers to control the communication between said chambers, and pneumatically operated means to control the communication between said one chamber and said inlet to the vacuum system.

24.. In an automatic musical instrument, a vacuum system having an inlet port, an expression device having a. plurality ot cham- .iers, one of which .is in communication with said port, atmospheric ports arranged at one end otV each ot said chambers, means providing communication between said chambers, and pneumatically operated means at the opposite ends ot said chambers from said atmospheric ports to control the communication between rsaid chambers, and note sheet controlled pneumatically operated means to control the communication between said one chamber and said inlet to the vacuum system.

25. In an expression device for a musical instrument, having an exhaust system, means for admitting atmospheric air to said system comprising a chest, a plurality of open ended chambers arranged side by side therein, each of said chambers communicating with the atmosphere through one end thereof, means providing communication between the other end ot certain of said chambers and an adjacent one of said chambers, means tor closing the last named end of each of said open-ended chambers to cut otl the communication with the adjacent chambers, and means for placing one of said chambers in communication with the vacuum system.

26. In an expression device, an expression chest, a plurality of chambers extending into said chest from one face thereor1 and being open to the atmosphere at their outer ends, means for regulating the admission of atmospheric air through said chamber ends, means tor establishing communication between the inner ends of each of said chambers and an adjacent one of said chambers, means tor closing the said inner ends of the chambers to cut olii said communication, and means tor providing communication between one of said chambers and the vacuum ystem oit' a musical instrument.

27. In an expression device, an expression chest, a plurality of chambers extending into said chest from one tace thereof and being open to the atmosphere at their outer ends, passages leading trom each of said chambers to a point adjacent the inner end of an adjacent chamber, means for controlling communication between the inner ends of the chambers and said passages, and means providingr Communication between one of said Chambers and the vacuum system of n musical instrument.

28. In an expression device, an expression chest, n phnulity oi chambers extending' into said chest from one face thereof and being` open to the atmosphere at their outer ends7 nn annuler recess surrounding the inner ends of each of seid chambers and adapted to Communicate therewith, a passage lending from each of said recesses to un adjacentehamher, av diaphragm coveringT the inner end of eneh of said Chambers to out off communication between it and the annular recess, and means providing` communication between one of said Chambers andthe vacuum system of a musical instrument.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of September, 1922.

STANLEY L. FISHER.

Certificate of Correction;

It is hereby. certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,591,300, granted July 6, 1926, upon the application of Stanley L. Fisher, of Chester, Connecticut, for an improvement in Automatic Musical Instruments, errors appear in the printed specilication requiring correction as follows: Page -1, line 1, before the Word lVhile insert the paragraph- My invention relates to autom/tto musical instruments md more espeetatty to (m express/on twice for 'use n commotion with such tmtmm'tents.; page 4, line 66, claim 10, for the Word quality read Quantity; and that the said Letters Patent should he read With these Corrections therein that the saine may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oiice.

Signed and Sealed this 3d day of August, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

, Acting ommtsstoner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,591,300, granted July G, 1926,

upon-the application of Stanley L. Fisher, of Chester, Connecticut, for an improvement in f Automatic Musical Instruments, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 1, before the Word While insert the para-graph- My z'n/ventz'on relates to autom/,atie musical instruments asn-cl more especially to an expression clem'ee for use n connection 'with such instruments.; page. 4, line 66, claim 10, for the Word quality read Quant/tty; andthat the said Lett-ers Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the .Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3d day of August, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting ommz'ssz'ener of Patents. 

